Tag: NAC

Rising STI Cases Threaten to Reverse HIV Gains in Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The surge in new Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) is a clear indication that Zimbabweans may be engaging in unprotected sex, a trend that could reverse the HIV gains recorded so far, top health officials have warned. Between January and June 2024, Zimbabwe recorded the highest number of new STI cases, with some infections showing resistance to available antibiotics. This was confirmed by Mr. Sinokuthemba Xaba, the National Condom and Male Circumcision Coordinator in the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), during a media training session for…

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Zimbabwe’s Zvandiri HIV Care Model Helps Bend HIV Trajectory in Africa’s Children

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Zvandiri model, a peer-led program focused on children, adolescents, and young adults living with HIV aged 0-24, was launched in Zimbabwe 2o years ago mainly as a vehicle to increase and improve access to treatment and care for children and young persons living with HIV. The model Zvandiri is implemented by young people aged 18 to 24  known as Community Adolescent Treatment Supporters (CATS). They are trained and mentored to support their peers throughout the HIV care continuum through support groups, home visits, phone call reminders,…

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#Breaking: Donors About To Pull The Plug On Condom Funding In Zimbabwe

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa One of the major funders for HIV and AIDS programs in Zimbabwe, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has notified the Zimbabwean government that it will terminate funding for condom programming within the next 30 months, HealthTimes has learnt. Popularly known as Madhimbare mainly because of their blue and white packaging, public sector condoms serve the biggest number of condom users in Zimbabwe especially those at high risk of HIV infection mainly Female Sex Workers (FSW), Artisanal Miners, Truck Drivers among other HIV key…

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SAfAIDS Unveils Social Contracting Framework for Effective HIV Response

Ntokozo Gudu

By Ntokozo Gudu in Mutare SAfAIDS and Zimbabwe Community Health Intervention Research ( ZCHIRe) convened a capacity strengthening dialogue for stakeholders to effectively disseminate and implement the Social Contracting guidelines under the banner of the United for Protection Coalition, in Mutare recently. The dialogue was targeting the National AIDS Council as the key institution for decision making on social contracting, bringing together Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on how to effectively input into the existing guidelines. The conversation highlighted the need to increase domestic financial resources and expand  revenue streams to…

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Restoring Smiles Among HIV-Positive Employees: Lake Harvest’s Workplace HIV and Wellness Program Pays Dividends

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa in Kariba As the 2030 target to end AIDS draws near, numerous interventions are being implemented across the globe in a bid to fast-track progress towards reaching the ambitious target. For companies operating in hard-hit regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV/AIDS has had major consequences on profitability and productivity of companies due to increased cases of absenteeism and AIDS-related deaths among the productive age groups. The UNAIDS acknowledges that HIV/AIDS is not just a public health issue but rather a workplace issue and a development challenge that…

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United For Prevention Coalition Sensitises Parliament on Need to Integrate Drug and Substance Abuse In the National HIV Prevention Response

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In a bid to capacitate members of Parliament with information and share the latest data and trends regarding the scourge of drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe, SAFAIDS recently held a one-day capacity-building workshop with members from the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health. While traditional methods of administering drugs and substances such as smoking and ingestion remain prevalent, the latest trends such as drug injection and Bluetooth or Flashblood whereby a syringe full of intoxicated blood is passed from someone who has just injected heroin to someone…

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ICASA To Proceed As Planned…Cholera Outbreak Under Control

Michael Gwarisa

The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) says they have identified most cases and initiated patients on Cholera treatment and care, allaying any fears of a full-blown cholera outbreak of the proportions of 2008/09. By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe has been recording sporadic and isolated cases of Cholera mostly in rural communities and some peri-urban centres over the past few months, raising fears in some circles that the outbreak could derail hosting of the international Conference on AIDS and SITs in Africa (ICASA), slated for December 4 to 9 2023.…

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One Stop Centres as Key Accelerators Towards Zimbabwe’s Progress To End AIDS By 2030

Michael Gwarisa

Women and girls who experience Gender Based Violence (GBV) are at high risk of contracting HIV. According to UN Women, GBV is a risk factor for HIV infection, and a consequence of stigma. Addressing violence and gender inequality is therefore essential to ending the AIDS epidemic and protecting the human rights of all people to safety, equality and the highest attainable standard of health. By Michael Gwarisa For Roselyn Magaso* 24, from Ngangu, Chimanimani, having been married at the age of 16, she experienced all forms of abuse at the…

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UNDP Facilitates Construction of Low Cost Boarding Facilities To Reduce HIV Vulnerability In Adolescent School Girls

Michael Gwarisa

Following the death of her mother, 15 year old Grace Mwamuka* now stays with her father and two minor siblings. She is from Ndima Village in Chimanimani. Throughout the year 2022, she would walk three hours to and from school daily. By Michael Gwarisa Every morning, she would wake up as early as 4:00 AM to clean the house and prepare food for her young siblings before departing for school. After school, she would rush home to clean the house and prepare dinner. This was taking a toll on her…

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Zimbabwe Hosts PrEP Communication Strategy Development Workshop

Michael Gwarisa

Various stakeholders from within the HIV continuum gathered in Mazowe, Mashonaland Central province for a four day Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) communication strategy development workshop. By Michael Gwarisa in Mazowe The workshop was hosted by the National AIDS Council (NAC), in collaboration with Jhpiego, with funding from Global Fund with the objective to design a communication instrument for the planning and coordination of demand creation interventions implemented by key stakeholders and implementing partners in at community level to motivate the uptake and sustained use of PrEP by priority audiences. The communication…

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